Monroe County ranks third in the state for frequency seeking the death penalty since 1995, making it a topic of some interest for Rochesterians. The death penalty has an intriguing history in the state of New York. Dating back to the Colonial era and peaking during the years 1900-1935, it was at one time accidentally abolished by the State Legislature. The electric chair debuted here, before subsequent use at Sing-Sing Prison in the first civilian execution for espionage in the United States. Along the way our state's high court and the U.S. Supreme Court have both weighed in on its constitutionality. This program traces the legal history of the death penalty and places it in context of famous trials, key players, and changing social attitudes in New York. The presenters are Betsy Vipperman, Director of the Appellate Division Law Library and Assistant Librarian Andrew Kloc.

[source: Monroe County Library website, 2017-Feb-27]